This article is from page 2 of the 2011-04-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
IN PLEDGING to take the fight for education to the floor of the Oireachtas, Clare Seanad Éireann hopeful Declan Kelleher has accused the new Government of making rural Ireland the “soft target” for cutbacks.
The Corofin National School principal has told The Clare People this week that as a member of the Upper House of the Oireachtas he would “interrogate” and “embarrass” the Government on its commitments to rural Ireland if it dares to press ahead with the controversial McCarthy Report provision calling for every school under 50 pupils to be either shut down or amalgamated.
“Closing schools is not prioritising rural and regional development,” blasted Mr Kelleher.
“In fact closing schools is downgrading rural infrastructure.
“My role will be to stand up and embarrass the Government, to interrogate the Government. The Government are looking at the easiest way to save additional funding and rural areas are soft target,” added Mr Kelleher.